A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan that lets employees defer pre-tax (or Roth) salary into an investment account. Most employers match contributions up to a limit.
A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan that lets employees defer pre-tax (or Roth) salary into an investment account. Most employers match contributions up to a limit.
For most Americans, the 401(k) is the largest retirement asset they'll ever have. The decisions you make in your 50s — contribution rate, Roth vs traditional, investment selection, rollover timing — determine whether that account funds 20 years of retirement or 30.
The "rule of 55" lets you access 401(k) funds penalty-free if you leave your employer in the year you turn 55 or later. Rolling the account to an IRA eliminates that option — think twice before rolling if you plan to retire between 55 and 59½.
Start with the free Retirement Readiness Score to see where you stand, then talk to a fiduciary if you want a second set of eyes. No pitch, no pressure.
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